lear: request

[LionNLamb]

Lear I have a really big favor to ask of you, please please please don't take this the wrong way. It's nothing against you and I understand you are probably really religious. But it is making me terribly uncomfortable every time I open a forum up and see something refering to your God, such as:

God bless you and your hamster. or
May God bless all the hammies who had been with us...

I understand you are just trying to comfort people, but if you could just keep in mind for me and others like me who don't believe in your God ( not that I am trying to start any kind of religion debate ) and this goes for the rest of your Christians/Catholics/ect out there...please be respectful with your wording for the rest of us. Thank you.

[lear]

I understand it as another "cultural shock" that comes across me since I came to this country about 5 years ago. Sorry I am still not quite sensitive to such sort of topics.

Honestly, I'm not religious at all. However, I'm coming from a culture that likes to use kind but supernature-related words to comfort people. Therefore, my feeling for "God bless you" is not stronger or more specific than "May happiness and peace be with you".

I did understand your feeling because your post reminded me how offended my professor (from Europe) felt when one of her students wrote in the term paper:" I believe God is the creator, however, I am using the term evolution here solely for the purpose of earning credits."

Seems like it's way beyond our topic in this forum, so I will stop here but I will keep your comments in mind be aware of things. Thanks for letting me know. :)

[LionNLamb]

Thank you, I really appreicate it.

[Left Paw]

Just a comment:

I, personally do not get offended when someone refers to God or Christianity- even though my beliefs run in another direction. I try to afford others the right to exercise their own convictions as I wish I felt free to exercise mine. However, living in the bible belt, I do not see that acceptance coming from anyone else any time soon. My parents are open and supportive to my beliefs, and for now, I will be content with that. However, my mother's family is very religious- her father, brother, and brother-in-law are preachers- her sister and other brother-in-law are missionaries- they have enough conflict over their different (though all Christina-based) denominations, and constantly persecute my mother for not follwing suit. She'll stand up for me when she won't stand up for herself, but as for now, I'm still in the closet- cover my alter with a towel when any of her family comes over- mainly becuse I know she'll be the one to get the flack over it- not me- and it is my decision.

[LionNLamb]

It's not that I am offended, it just makes me uncomfortable. I was raised as a bornagain christian and about three years ago changed my faith. My mother ( whom I must say has turned ever beautiful religion she has touched into a cult like status due to her addictive personality ) is continually after me to "come back" to God. I give that another year before she once again declares my soul unsavable and discovers what faith I follow now and either hangs me or burns me at the stake. Anyways...I'm sorry, I didn't want to turn this into a big thing. I'll shut up now...

[Left Paw]

My mother came home once- to her own apartment- to discover her family had been blessing and annointing the house behind her back while she was away. She knew what had happened when she came in the door- the olive oil cross signs they drew on things was obvious- she had already left a family gathering in the middle when they started that at someone else's house. And she does not practice any religion at all- she detests religion. She has let me make my own decisoin on the matter. I can imagine what they would think about me. Maybe your family and my family can get to gether and save firewood when they martyr us.

[LionNLamb]

Well before being burned alive with you I would like to get that animal shelter/traveling vet business with you.

[Left Paw]

OKay. I'll be in seventh grade this year- by the time I graduate fom Auburn, you can have it up and running- I'll come in as a junior partner. :)